OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the potential associati
on between prolonged second stage of labor and stress urinary incontinence.
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, population-based study was performed. A rand
om, case-controlled sample of 85 cases and 88 controls was identified by me
ans of a standard computerized patient database. Subjects were identified b
y International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes, and medic
al records were reviewed. The median follow-up time from delivery was 7.8 y
ears for cases and 7.2 years for controls. Multiple logistic regression was
performed to test for an association between stress urinary incontinence a
nd variables of interest.
RESULTS: The data suggest that for all women who labored the length of the
second stage of labor for the first delivery was not associated with stress
urinary incontinence (odds ratio, 1.07; P = .42; 95% confidence interval,
0.9-1.3). However, forceps delivery was associated with a significant incre
ase in stress urinary incontinence risk (odds ratio, 10.4; P = .04; 95% con
fidence interval, 1.2-93.4).
CONCLUSION: Length of second stage of labor was not associated with stress
urinary incontinence. However, the odds of having a later diagnosis of stre
ss urinary incontinence was 10 times higher for women who underwent forceps
delivery.